2011 Caterham Supersport: official details, photos, specs and price

The Supersport, the latest model to be released by Caterham Cars, is the first brand-new addition to the Seven range in two years. The Supersport is built to be one of the sportscar’s purest versions ever. This road-legal version is a direct derivative of the race car that participates in the Caterham Supersport championship. This version has all the performance highlights of the track version but it has received some fine tuning.

The 140bhp Supersport in self-build form carries a price tag of £19,995 (including tax). For this price, the buyer gets a car that is reminiscent of Colin Chapman's 1950s concept that proves that ‘less is more'. The Supersport is a lightweight minimalist vehicle that offers excellent handling and the excitement of driving at its core.

The vehicle is powered by a Caterham Motorsport-tuned 1.6-litre Ford Sigma engine that comes with five-speed 'sprint' ratio gearing. It has been fitted with a lightweight flywheel and race-prepared suspension and it rides on CR500 Avon tires on 13" wheels.

The Ford powerplant has a weight of only 520kg and partly due to this light weight, the Supersport is able to accelerate from zero to 60mph in 4.9 seconds and it can easily achieve a top speed of 120mph.

The Supersport has been installed with a motorsport-honed limited-slip-differential and gearing intended for sports driving. It has also been given uprated springs and dampers that took inspiration from its race car counterpart.

Adding to this effect are stiffer anti-roll bars, track biased dash with integrated change up lights and an aero screen. Instead of the standard seat belt, the Supersport has composite race seats and a four-point race harness. The latest Seven may be designed for the track but it’s meant to be driven on the road too. From right out of the factory, the Supersport can cost £22,995. But in component form, it can be purchased for £19,995.

Press Release

RAZOR SHARP SEVEN TAKES TO THE ROAD

Caterham Cars' first brand new addition to the world-renowned Seven range in two years – the Supersport – is one of the purest versions yet of the iconic British sportscar.

Derived directly from the race car that competes in the highly-successful Caterham Supersport championship, the road-going edition borrows all of the track version's performance essentials and then, for good measure, is fine-tuned for the road.

Priced £19,995 (incl tax) in self-build form, the 140bhp Supersport carries the DNA of Colin Chapman's 1950s concept of 'less is more' and remains true to his philosophy of lightweight, minimalist machines that place outstanding handling characteristics and the thrill of driving at their core.

A Caterham Motorsport-tuned 1.6-litre Ford Sigma engine, five-speed 'sprint' ratio gearing, lightweight flywheel and race-prepared suspension with CR500 Avon tyres on 13" wheels promise a raw and unadulterated driving experience – not for the faint-hearted but certainly for driving purists at home both on the road and on the track.

Weighing just 520kg, the Ford powerplant will propel the Supersport from 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds and will achieve a top speed of 120mph without breaking a sweat.

Equipped with a motorsport-honed limited-slip-differential and gearing with sports driving in mind, the Supersport also features uprated springs and dampers borrowed directly from its race car cousin, stiffer anti-roll bars, track biased dash with integrated change up lights and an aero screen. Composite race seats and a four-point race harness instead of standard seat belt complete the track-inspired experience.

Engineered for the track but at home on the road, the latest Seven packs an unrivalled punch for its price tag too. Factory-built, the Supersport will cost £22,995 with enthusiasts able to purchase in component form for £19,995.

The Supersport is unveiled just over two months after Caterham launched its extreme new sports racer, the SP/300.R to great acclaim at the Autosport International Show.

Caterham Cars engineering director, Mark Edwards, said: "The SP/300.R was our first brand new model for 15 years. But the Supersport is all about our roots. The Seven was born out of motorsport and this new model illustrates the values – accessibility, affordability and unadulterated fun – that have made Caterham the iconic brand it is today and which will ensure the Seven's continuing global success.

"We've built faster and more powerful accelerating cars before, but the Supersport's character, value and low running costs have generated a machine that will excite sportscar fans, including those on a budget."

The Caterham Supersport Championship represents the third rung of its 'motorsport ladder' and is Caterham's fastest-growing series. With 14 rounds over seven race weekends, the championship heads to the new Snetterton 300 circuit on 24-25th April.